New chapter of talent

1:57pm Wednesday 30th April 2008

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TALENTED youngsters from Furness saw their creative talents rewarded by a popular children's author as part of a global celebration promoting the enjoyment of books and reading, reports Lizzie Anderson.

For more than ten years, World Book Day has seen events and activities organised in more than 100 countries and, this year, the Bookshop at the Tinners' Rabbit in Ulverston launched a World Book Day competition, which invited pupils from six primary schools to come up with a name for a new fantasy novel.

More than 50 entries were received from children at Sir John Barrow School, Croftlands Junior School and St Mary's RC Primary School in Ulverston; George Romney School in Dalton; Low Furness CE School in Urswick; and Broughton in Furness Primary School.

Younger pupils were also encouraged to enter a drawing competition, with prizes awarded for the best drawing of a favourite picture book.

Popular teen author Gareth Thompson, who has established himself as a leader in his field, following the success of two teen novels set in Cumbria, was also present to judge the competitions and other book-related activities that took place.

One school pupil who impressed the judges with her literary flair was Greer Anderson, who is in year five at Sir John Barrow School in Ulverston and came up with the intriguing book title, Pontus the War Begins.

Greer was unable to attend the awards ceremony at the bookshop, but luckily her brother was able to accept it on her behalf.

Jill Cooke, head of literacy at the school, said: "We took part in the competition as part of our book week in school, where the whole week was dedicated to literary activities, including book-making, reading and writing stories and autobiographies."